TAIPEI: Two people who went missing amid the destructive wind and torrential rains of Typhoon Krathon were found dead Saturday in Taiwan, doubling the death toll for the storm that lashed the island this week.
Across the island, around 20,000 homes were still without power Saturday, mostly in the worst-hit southern seaport city of Kaohsiung, where the typhoon made landfall.
Krathon dissipated into a tropical depression on Friday after slamming into the island the day before, bringing mudslides, flooding and record-strong gusts.
More than 700 people were injured.
On Saturday, two missing people were found dead in northern New Taipei city, bringing the typhoon’s death toll to four, the National Fire Agency said without providing details.
Heavy rains triggered landslides in several districts of New Taipei and flooded streets, temporarily stranding dozens of students at their schools, officials said.
The defence ministry said around 250 soldiers were dispatched on Friday to the city and nearby Keelung, which also reported landslides, to help clear roads and drain floodwater.
In Kaohsiung and neighbouring Pingtung, about 1,500 soldiers were deployed for a second day to aid in typhoon relief work, according to the defence ministry.
Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but scientists have warned climate change is increasing their intensity, leading to heavy rains, flash floods and strong gusts.
In July, Gaemi became the strongest typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan in eight years, killing at least 10 people, injuring hundreds and triggering widespread flooding in Kaohsiung.

Southern Taiwan on Friday repaired the damages caused by floods and high winds after Typhoon Krathon struck the island, impacting major metropolitan areas. Meanwhile, financial markets resumed operations as the rest of Taiwan returned to work.
Krathon, which made landfall in the southwestern port city of Kaohsiung, has now been downgraded to a tropical depression, after it caused streets to flood, shattered windows in several buildings, and sent debris flying with its record-breaking winds.
While work resumed earlier on the day, the local governments in Kaohsiung and neighboring Pingtung county declared another day off work, which was the fourth in a row. This decision was taken to remove downed trees, pump out floodwaters and remove detritus from roads.
In Kaohsiung, a city housing almost 2.7 million people, cranes were deployed to remove downed trees and traffic signs, with some roads blocked and drivers and pedestrians diverted.
In a post on the social media platform Facebook, Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chi-mai said that some parts of the city got more rain than during the last storm, Typhoon Gaemi, in July.
“Given the long duration of the storm, coupled with the strong winds and heavy rain, the city government is doing its best to repair the damage,” he wrote.
Tsai Ming-an, a 51-year old engineer said that his house was flooded about 20 cm, covering his entire house on the ground floor.
“I have never seen winds like that. It was so bad,” Tsai added.
Taiwan is almost always hit by typhoons at the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific Ocean, Krathon, however, unusually struck its flat west coast. Almost all of Kaohsiung and Pingtung power remained down for 100,000 households.
The fire department reported that the death toll remained constant at two, both of whom died on the east coast prior to the typhoon’s landfall. Additionally, one person is missing, and 667 were injured.
Taiwan’s north-south high speed rail line reopened as ordinary, apart from two branch lines. However, air transport was disrupted, with 13 international and 85 domestic flights canceled.
According to the transport ministry, some freight containers were blown off their stacks at Kaohsiung port and were cleared by workers to ensure smooth operations.
Kaohsiung airport suffered damage to two air bridges, while the airport on the outlying Orchid Island had landing aids washed away, though both facilities remained open, the ministry added.
The government also said investigations were conducted for the Pingtung hospital fire that broke out as the typhoon was bearing down, killing nine people.

Taiwan mobilised nearly 40,000 troops on Tuesday to bolster rescue efforts as the powerful Typhoon Krathon approaching its populous southwest coast is expected to bring a storm surge and the coast guard raced to locate 19 sailors who abandoned ship, Reuters reported.
Nearly 40,000 troops have been mobilised in Taiwan to strengthen rescue efforts as the powerful Typhoon Krathon approaching its populous southwest coast.
The typhoons is likely to bring a storm surge after striking parts of northern Phillippines and the coast guard raced to locate 19 sailors who abandoned ship.
the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued the latest sea and land alerts for Typhoon Krathon, six cities and counties around Taiwan have announced schools and office closures on Tuesday.
According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), Krathon is likely to hit the major port city of Kaohsiung on Wednesday morning, then move towards the the centre of Taiwan heading northeast and cross out into the East China Sea
Home to some 2.7 million people, Kaohsiung declared a holiday and told people to stay at home as Krathon approached and is expected to strike as a category 4 storm according to Tropical Storm Risk.
Li Meng-hsiang, a forecaster for Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, stated that the storm has reached its maximum intensity and could weaken slightly as it moves closer to Taiwan, warning of gusts of more than 150 kph (93 mph) for the southwest.
More than 38,000 troops have been on standby to deal with the typhoon, said Taiwan’s defence ministry.
The transport ministry stated that 85 domestic flights and nine international ones had been cancelled for Wednesday, with boats to outlying islands also stopped.
Most shops and restaurants pulled down their doors and shutters, and traditional wet markets shut with streets mostly deserted in Kaohsiung.